One Step Forward Three Steps Back - ShiVi FS : Part 3 on Pg8 - Page 3

A/N: Updating today

It has been 3 months since Raavi had left Pandya House, devastated and shattered. Devastated because her love remained unrequited, once again. And shattered because for the first time she realised what it felt like to be an orphan. This was the first time she felt truly alone. These were the moments when she missed her parents. Maybe she was a panoti just like Shiva used to say, cause why else wouldn't anyone want her? She was in a true sense an outcast.

All her life, Raavi has felt incomplete and out of place. Pandya Parivaar appeared to be the perfect cure to the misery that had been bestowed upon her since birth. But little did she know that they would only make it worst. The naive little 10-year-old Raavi had dreams, she had fantasies. Which were all harshly torn apart now.

Raavi used to have her Maasa-pa and Maasi-ma who love her as their own child. A mother figure in the form of Suman Kaki, Loving sisters in the form of Anita Di and Dhara Di, an older brother who she adored in the form of Gaumbi, a comrade in the form of Krish. And allies in the form of Dev and Rishita And how can she forget, her frenemy Shiva now turned husband. Who she was deeply in love with. But now she had no one. She felt all alone. And it was the worst feeling. The feeling that the loneliness would eat her alive. She rarely meets her Maasa-pa anymore, her Maasi-ma let her hate for the Pandya's overpower her love of her daughter, so much contempt, that she tricked her into signing the divorce papers (she blams herself as well for being so gullible). For Suman kaki, her love for her son's prevails over anything even if it means disrespecting anyone else. Anita in her Gaumbi obsession was ruining her sister life in the process without even bothering to think over her actions and their consequences. Dhara's adored her but not enough to confide in her regarding the house old matter even though she had every right to know. Dev, she didn't really have any expectations from Dev and her and Rishita were sailing in the same boat at the moment, but it seems like the family trusted Rishita more than her who they have literally seen grow up in front of their eyes. Rishita's family literally brought the Pandya's on the brick of bankruptcy, but that was forgotten like it was nothing. But why did Raavi have to face the consequences of her family mistakes? Why did she have to prove her innocence? Why did she have to prove her worth?

The Pandya's were the picture-perfect family to the outside world. So perfect that they could even put the Ambani’s to shame. The only difference is that the Pandya's won't as well to do as the global billionaires. But that in no way stops them from having a celebration every other day. Dreaming about being a part of Pandya Niwas made Raavi presume that she will finally find a place to belong, to call her own, but that was all an illusion. A delusion just like her dream to marry Dev. At the end of the day, they were a tight-knit family, that had no place for an outsider such as herself.

And Shiva, her Bhoothnath, how much love she has for him. So much that it crushed her heart when he dismissed her confession like it was nothing. “Kuch farak nahi padne wala,” he said as Raavi could hear the sound of her heartbreak. She missed him so much. Everything felt incomplete with him. She had lost control of her emotions a couple of times and was about to call him, but then she remembered his hurtful statements and would put down her phone, leaving the room. She knows that Shiva doesn't mean most of the things he blurts out during fights, since that has always been his defence mechanism to cover up his actual emotions, but this time she couldn't help but believe his agonizing words. Maybe he really does hate her as much as he says he does. Maybe his hate had finally triumphed over his love for her. Or perhaps a part of him still loves her, but she knows that his love is conditional. Maybe if she had not fought with him on New Year, they would be happy presently. But for how long? If she were to have another disagreement with Dhara Di in the future, Shiva would yet again detach himself from her. He doesn't even trust her for her to believe in his love just yet. And no it wasn't his fault that he doesn't trust her. She blames the situation more than him. And maybe herself a little as well, because looking back slapping him and sending him into jail was totally out of line. But his love came with terms. And all her life all Raavi has known is conditional love. So she decided to be selfish for once. She wanted unconditional love. Thus she did the first thing that came to her mind, she left.....

She fled with her mind in scrambles and the pieces of her broken heart. The first thought that came into her mind was, what now? She couldn't go back to Maasi-ma's house after everything that she has done. Not knowing what to do, she called the only person that could comfort her. She called Ruhi.

Ruhi was her college friend and currently her only friend as she had cut tires from her old friend group cause they would not stop badmouthing her Shiva. Ruhi was different. She had met her in college and they had instantly clicked. Their friendship took a pause when Ruhi had shifted to Delhi to live with her sick aunt. Nonetheless, they still kept in touch through phone calls, texting and video calls. Now Ruhi was back and the only one who could help her out at the moment. She was an orphan just like her. The only living relative she has is her older brother who would travel around a lot. Her aunt had passed away from cancer.

And just like that Ruhi boosted her to get her back on her feet. At first, things were tough, with Raavi not talking for a week. But then one day she finally broke down in front of her, letting it all out as she cried her heart out while Ruhi comforted her. To say that she was feeling lighter after that would be an understatement. It was like a crushing weight lifted out of her shoulders. Like they say, “Baat karne se Mann Halka Hota hai”.

Ruhi was an outspoken girl, much like herself. Or to put it in a better perspective much like her before the whole marriage fiasco. This was one of the reasons they got along so well. So it wasn't a surprise that she had some choices of words for her so-called “family”. She was ready to whisk to Pandya Niwas and give them her peace of mind, only to be stopped by Raavi when she pleaded that it was not worth it.

Now Raavi lived in the outskirts of Somnath in Ruhi's 3 bhk apartment that had the Somnath beach as the view. This was great considering that Raavi had been able to successfully avoid the Pandya's and the Narayan's for 3 months. Now that she and Shiva were actually divorced she had taken her maiden name “Shah" instead of ”Narayan” as she didn't feel like a part of that family as well. She had changed her number in the second week when the calls and messages became too much. And now she can finally say that she was on the path of moving on. Not from her Chatan Pandya though. Raavi doesn't think that she is ever going to be able to move on from Shiva. He was her epic love after all. But that doesn't mean that she has forgiven him or will forgive him anytime soon.

Her friend had also taken a gap year just like Raavi who had to pause her education after her marriage. So now they would be in the same class. She had helped her get a job at the boutique near their place. Raavi adored that boutique and its staff so much. They were all so inviting and fun people to work with. She modelled for their catalogue and would sometimes help with the accounts as well (she was a BCom student and had seen her husband do it 100 times, so this was a piece of cake for her) She would model for their clothes (she was after all Somnath ki sabse Sundar ladki). The pay was pretty good since the store was pretty popular among the youth. Her salary was more than enough to pay for her share of the rent (even though Ruhi didn't want her to pay rent at all), to help with the household expenditures and to save up for her college semester fees. She does have a trust fund from her parents that she could only excess when she would turn 25. So she had to collect money for the fees all by herself. She was all set to join college for the new semester but there was one dilemma. All her paperwork was back at the Pandya's house and Raavi wasn't sure if she was ready to face her demons just yet......

_______________________________________________

A/N: I was so overwhelmed with the response this OS got so I decided to continue it. This chapter once again focuses on Raavi after a 3-month leap. I felt like Raavi needed someone. Who would The next chapter will see what happened when Raavi had announced her decision to leave and how the family, especially Shiva reacted. We are going to dive a little deeper into Shiva's thoughts and find out what has taken place in the Pandya Niwas during these three months.

So how did you like this chapter 🤔?

What do you think about Ruhi 🤗?

Pulled an all-nighter again since this took way longer than planned. So I am off to sleep 😪.

Do vote and comment. I love reading all of them 🥰

Until next time 👋🏻

Originally posted by: spdp

Wow!

Please do continue!

Thank you 😘 Update coming soon

Originally posted by: VNuts

That was amazing!! 😍

Definitely, do continue!! I want to see Raavi giving it back to each of them!!

I am glad you liked it 🤗. Raavi needs to stand up for herself

Originally posted by: lourel24

Yes yes please do continue as what all of want to see will start from next chapter.

Updating soon 🤭

Originally posted by: navk

Omg its amazing

I wish they could show something like this

Please do continue

You are an awesome writer

Thank you for the appreciation 😊. I wish that as well but one cannot expect much from Pandya store 🤷🏻‍♀️

Originally posted by: 07RB

Continue please.

I want Raavi to bajaoy Suman, Shiva nd his love for Bhabhi maa.

Yes, it's much needed 🙌

Originally posted by: Ocean_breeze

It was veryyy lovely and amazing ..plz do continue.❤️

This is the raavi we all wanted, standing up for herself strongly.

Beautifully penned down🤗

Thank you 😊. Waiting for the makers use their heads and make Raavi stand up for herself.

Originally posted by: blackdress

Waiting for next chapter

Updating soon 😌

Originally posted by: Jiyakumari

Good raavi ki self respect ko bhut chot pahunchi hai usper kabhi koi vishwas nhi kerta specially shiva. Okay I love their jodi but that doesn't mean ki raavi ko hamesha khud ki innocence proof kerni pde. Love is important but not more than self respect.😶

💯💯💯 bohot insult ho gaya. Now she needs to stand up for herself